Foot binding mechanism

ABSTRACT

This invention is a foot binding mechanism to receive one&#39;&#39;s foot therein having a foot support assembly mounted on a support member and a binding assembly connected to the foot support assembly and the support member. The foot support assembly includes (1) a stationary housing assembly to support a forward portion of one&#39;&#39;s foot; (2) a movable housing assembly connectable about the heel of one&#39;&#39;s foot; and (3) the binding assembly connected to the movable housing assembly and the support member. The binding assembly includes a thrust member connected to the movable housing assembly, an anchor bar connected to the thrust member and to an anchor assembly. The anchor bar is movable in an upward direction to the unlatched condition for ease of adjustment requiring only a single hand to do so.

United States Patent 1191 Jack 1111 3,839,758 1451 Oct.'8, 1974 FOOT BINDING MECHANISM [76] Inventor: Charles L. Jack, 2638 Southeast Ct., Wichita, Kans. 67216 22 Filed: July 13,1973

21 Appl. No.: 378,837

[52] US. Cl. 9/310 AA, 280/1135 R 51 rm. c1. ss s 24 [58] Fieldpf S earch 280/ 11.35 R, 11.3

280/113511, 11.352; 11.35 v, 11.13 R, 280/1135 0; 9/310 AA, 310 R; 115/70; 269/201,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Norway 280/1135 R Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examinen-G. L. Auton w 57 I ABSTRACT This invention is a foot binding mechanism to receive I ones foot therein having a foot support assembly mounted on a support member and a binding assembly connected to the foot support assembly and the support member. The foot support assembly includes (1) a stationary housing assembly to support a forward portion of ones foot; (2) a movable housing assembly connectable about the heel of ones foot; and-(3) the binding assembly connected to the movable housing assembly and the support member. The binding assembly includes a thrust member connected to the movable housing assembly, an anchorbar connected to the thrust member and to an anchor assembly. The anchor bar is movable in an upward direction to the unlatched condition for ease of adjustment requiring only a single hand to do so.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUBBT 81w a'.ass,75a

sum 20? 2 FOOT BINDING MECHANISM PRIOR ART In the prior art, there are numerous binding structures which are utilized for holding snow ski boots or ones foot on water skis but they are complicated in usage requiring both hands for attachment and adjustment thereof. The prior art devices fail to disclose a binding structure which is readily movable from the latched to unlatched conditions requiring only one hand to do so and, therefore, the prior art devices are especially difficult to use when one is floating in the water and attempting to mount water skis. Aaditionally, the prior art binding structures are generally complicated in structure, hard to use, un-reliable in opera tion, cannot be easily placed in a repeat adjusted condition, and are normally unattractive in appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a foot binding mechanism is provided which is easily attachable to asupport structure such as a water or snow ski and adapted to receive and anchor ones foot therein. The foot binding mechanism includes a foot support means secured to the support member and a binding means mounted between a portion of the foot support means and the support member. The foot support means includes a stationary housing assembly secured to the support member adapted to receive the forward portion of a foot therein; a movable housing assembly secured to the support member'adapted to receive a 'persons heel portion therein; and a connector housing secured to the support member adapted to receive the movable housing assembly therein for longitudinal movement. The binding means includes a main thrust member secured to the movable housing assembly; an

anchor bar connected to the thrust member on one end thereof; and an anchor assembly secured to the support member and adjustably connected to the opposite end of the anchor bar. The thrust member includes a main thrust body pivotally connected to the movable housing assembly having thereon a lift knob to movefrom unlatched to latched conditions. The anchor bar includes one end pivotally connected to the thrust member and the other end provided with laterally extended connector shafts which are mountable within the ancho'r assembly. The anchor assembly is provided with a pair of upright parallel sidewalls having a plurality of forwardly extending slots therein to receive respective ones of the connector shafts in an adjusted position. The movable-housing assembly is moved longitudinally within guide tracks of the connector housing on movement of the anchor bar. On placement of the anchor bar in particular ones of the opposed slots in the anchor assembly, such operates to hold in an adjusted position and provides numerous positions for foot size variations.

In another preferred embodiment, a foot binding mechanism is provided having a foot support means connected to support member such as a water or snow ski member and having a binding means mounted between the support member and the foot support means. The foot support means is substantially identical to that in the first embodiment having a stationary housing assembly, a movable housing assembly, and a connector housing. The main difference in this embodiment is the binding means which includes a thrust member, an anchor bar, and a anchor assembly. The anchor bar is housing assembly includes a plurality of forwardly extending connector slots adapted to receive the connector shaft of the respective connector legs therein. This second embodiment operates substantially identical to that of the first embodiment except having the parallel connector legs and separate connector housings to provide for a more rigid latching of the foot binding mechanism. v

One object of this invention is to provide a foot binding mechanism which can be readily attached to a support ski of various types having a foot support means and a binding means, the binding means is operable in aneasy manner to be moved to an adjusted position and to the latched and un-latched conditions requiring only one hand to do so. H

One further object of this invention is to provide a foot binding mechanism which can be used to hold any foot structure in a rigid manner. v

Still, anotherobject of this invention is to provide a foot binding mechanism having an interconnected foot support means and a binding means which, on movement from the latched to the un-latched condition, provides for a substantial longitudinal movement of a portion of the foot support means for ease of inserting and removing a foot structure.-

Still, a further object of this invention is-to provide a foot binding mechanism having a binding means, an anchor bar, and an anchor assembly connected to a foot support means whereby the foot binding mechanism is readily operable to hold the foot support means in the adjusted condition regardless of the force applied thereto.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a foot binding mechanism which is easy to use, attractive in appearance, economical tomanufacture, substantially maintenance free, and safe in operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 except showing the foot binding mechanism of this invention in the unlatched condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a support ski member illustrating a second-embodiment of the foot binding mechanism of this invention connected thereto; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the second embodiment of the foot binding mechanism of this invention having portions thereof brokenaway for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new foot binding mechanism of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a foot binding mechanism, indicated generally at 12, is shown as mounted on an elongated flat support member 14 which is normally a snow or water ski member. The foot binding mechanism 12 is utilized to retain ones foot thereon whether bare as for water skiing or may be adapted to anchor a ski boot thereon for snow skiing. However, the foot binding mechanism 12 described herein is utilized to anchor ones foot to a water ski member.

The foot binding mechanism 12 includes a foot support means 16 connected to the support member 14 and a binding means 18 mounted between the support member 14 and the foot support means 16. The foot support means 16 includes a stationary housing assembly 20 secured to the support member 14; a connector housing 22 secured to the support member 14; and a movable housing assembly 24.

The stationary housing assembly 20 includes a foot support boot 26 secured by an anchor member 28 mounted by screw members 29 to the support member 14. More particularly, the anchor member 28 is of a generally u-shapeso as to enclose the forward peripheral portion of ones foot. The foot support boot 26 is constructed of a resilient rubber material.

The movable housing assembly 24 includes a main u-shaped connector element 31 to receive and anchor a heel support boot 32 against a guide plate 34 and a latch assembly 36. The connector element 31 is provided with a plurality of spaced holes to receive respective screw members 39 connected to the guide'plate 34. The guide plate 34 has opposed, outer guide sections 41 to bemounted within the connector housing 22 for sliding movement to be explained. The latch assembly 36 is mounted on a central, rearward portion of the connector element 31 and includes a latch member 43 pivotally connected to a support lug 44 by a pin member 46. The latch assembly 36 further includes a spring member 47 mounted about the pin member 46 to bias the latch member 43 in a rearward, latched condition as viewed in FIG. 3.

The connector housing 22 is provided with a pair of parallel, opposed guide tracks 51, each secured as by connector members 53 to the support member 14. Each guide track 51 includes a longitudinal guide slot 54 therein to receive a respective guide section 41 of the guide plate 34 therein for longitudinal movement in a manner to be explained. It is noted that the combination of the stationary housing assembly 20 and the movable housing assembly 24 resembles a conventionally available foot, support structure found on water ski structures. However, the novelty lies more specifically in the binding means 18 of this invention.

The binding means 18 includes a main thrust member 56 pivotally connected to the movable housing assembly 24; an anchor bar 58 pivotally connected to the thrust member 56; and an anchor assembly 60 connected to the support member 14 and operable to adjustably receive one end of the anchor bar 58 therein. The thrust member 56 is of a generally u-shape having a main body 62 with forwardly extended leg sections 64. The forward most portions of the leg sections 64 are pivotally connected to upright connector tabs 65 integral with the connector element 31 of the movable housing assembly 24. A central portion of the thrust main body 62 is provided with upwardly extended lift knob 67 to be utilized in moving to latched and unlatched conditions as will be explained. Adjacent and forwardly of the lift knob 67 is a latch portion 69 to receive the latch member 43 thereagainst when in the latched condition as shown in FIG. 1. Outer portions of the main body 62 are each provided with an opening to receive screw members 71 for pivotal connection to the anchor bar 58.

The anchor bar 58 is provided with a body section 73 having a forward u-shaped support section 74 with integral outer arm sections 76 pivotally connected by the screw members 71 to the main body 62. The rearward end of the body section 73 is provided with a laterally extended connector shaft 75 to be received in the anchor assembly 60.

The anchor assembly 60 is provided with a main body 76 having a bottom wall 78 secured to the support member 14 and having a pair of parallel, opposed upright sidewalls 79 integral with the bottom wall 78. Each sidewall 79 is provided with a cut-out section 81 which includes a plurality of connector or guide slots 83 separated by forwardly extended separator or finger elements 85. Pairs of opposed guide slots 83 are operable to selectively receive the connector shaft 75 of the anchor bar 58 therewithin in a desired adjusted position as will be explained.

In a second preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a foot binding mechanism 87 is attached to the support member 14. The foot binding mechanism 87 includes the foot support means 16 and a binding means 89 connected to the support member 14 and the foot support means 16. The foot support means 16 is substantially identical to that previously described having the stationary housing assembly 20 secured to the support member 14; the movable housing assembly 24 connected to the connector housing 22 which, in turn, is secured to the support member 14.

The binding means 89 of this embodiment is provided with the previously described main thrust member 56 and having an anchor bar 91 securedto an anchor assembly 93.The anchor bar 91 is provided with a main body or yoke section 95 having integral, spaced connector legs 96, each of which are mountable in the anchor assembly 93. The connector legs 96 are each provided at the outer most ends with an outwardly extended connector shaft 98 to be mountable within the anchor assembly 93.

The anchor assembly 93 is provided with two anchor sections 101, each extended rearwardly and integral with respective ones of the guide tracks 51 of the connector housing 22 of th foot support means 16.

More particularly, each anchor section 101 is provided with a main body 103 having a bottom wall 105, an outer wall 106, endwallsl07, and an inner sidewall 109 which is provided with a plurality of connector or guide slots 83 therein. It is seen that each anchor section 101 is secured as by screw members 110 to the OPERATION OF THE INVENTION In the use and operation of the foot binding mechanism 12 of this invention, it is seen that the latch member 43 can be pivoted to the unlatched condition and the lift knob 67 moved upwardly to the unlatched condition as shown in FIG. 3. In this condition, one can insert a foot within the foot support boot 26 to enclose same. Of course, the anchor bar 58 can be moved longitudinally within the anchor assembly 60 to place the connector shafts 75 in the desired cooperating pair of the connector or guide slots 83 depending on adjustment required. On placing the anchor bar 58 in the desired adjusted condition, it is obvious that the lift knob 67 can be moved downwardly to move the movable housing assembly 24 forwardly until the thrust member 56 and anchor bar 58 are extended generally in the same plane to the latched condition of FIG. 1. Of course, the latch member 43 is engagable with the latch portion 69 of the main body 62 to hold in this latche condition.

On movement to the unlatched condition, one needs to grasp the lift knob 67 and, with ones thumb, pivot the latch member 43 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. L The lift knob 67 can then move vertically to the unlatched condition of FIG. 3 requiring only one hand to achieve same. i

In the second preferred embodiment, being the foot 7 binding mechanism 87 of this invention, it is seen in the operation that is is substantially identical of the first embodiment as far as latching and ,unlatching except the anchor bar 91 has the parallel connector legs 96 mountable within the connector or guide slots 83 to anchor against lateral movement. The foot binding mechanism can be readily adjusted as to foot size with the connector shafts 98 in selected connector slots 83 of the anchor assembly 93. Also, movement to the latched and unlatched conditions is identical to that previously described in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment being the foot binding mechanism 87 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is noted that such provides for an open space between the anchor sections 101 so that one can utilize with a single ski as the foot not within the foot support means 16 can be placed between the anchor sections 101. Additionally, in this embodiment, it is seen that the use of the spaced connector legs 96 provides for more rigid connection and would not permit any possible lateral twisting movement of the movablehousing assembly 24 when in the latched condition.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A foot binding mechanism adapted to receive ones foot therein, comprising:

a. a foot support means attached to a main support member having a stationary housing assembly and a movable housing assembly;

b. said movable housing assembly connected by a connector housing to said support member;

c. a binding means connected to said movable housing assembly and said support member;

d. said binding means includes a thrust member connected to said movable housing assembly, an anchor bar connected to said thrust member, and an anchor assembly connected to said anchor bar;

e. said anchor bar movable longitudinally within said anchor assembly to adjusted positions and freely movable in an upward manner to the unlatched condition for substantial longitudinal movement of said movable housing assembly and, subsequently, movable downwardly to the latched condition in contact with said anchor assembly; I

f. said anchor assembly having a plurality of guide slots therewithin to selectively receive said anchor bar therewithin in an adjusted condition'whereby said anchor bar is' movable within said guide slots so as to be movable to various adjusted position, and said guide slots restrict rearward movement of said anchor bar and permit upward and lateral movement thereof to another adjusted position.

2. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 1,

wherein:

a. said stationary housing assembly having a connector member securing a foot support boot against said support member;

b. said thrust-member having a main thrust body. pivotally connected to said movable housing and pivotallyconnected to said anchor bar and movable about a pivot point from latched to unlatched conditions, and

c. said anchor assembly having a pair of spaced sidewalls having a plurality of said guide. slots therewithin to selectively receive said anchor bar therewithin in an adjusted condition whereby said anchorbar is movable within said sidewalls and outwardly of said guide slots so as to be movable to various adjusted position. i 7

3. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 1,

wherein:

a. said anchor assembly having a pair of spaced sidewalls having the plurality of said guide slots therewithin to selectively receive said anchor-bar therewithin in an adjusted condition whereby said anchor bar is movable-within said sidewalls and said guide slots so as to be movable to various adjusted positions, and

b. said guide slots having forwardly extended finger elements to restrict rearward movement of said anchor bar and permit upward and lateral movement thereof to another adjusted position.

4. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 3,

wherein:'

a. said anchor assembly provided with a, pair of spaced anchor sections each to receive a portion of said anchor bar therein; and

b. said anchor bar having a pair of parallel connector legs, each having an outwardly extended connector shafts to mount in respective ones said guide slots to hold in the adjusted conditions.

5. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 4,

wherein:

a. said movable housing assembly having a connector element securing a heel support boot against said support member;

b. said connector element haivng guide plates movtherebetween;

able within said connector housing for longitudinal b, id th t b r a d an hor bar extended in a Q common horizontal plane in the latched condition c. said connector element having a latch assembly ento prevent movement of said movable housing gageable with said thrust member to anchor and hold said anchor bar in the latched condition. 6. A foot binding meehanism as describe in Claim 4, c. said connector legs mounted within said guide slots h i and held against rearward movement by said finger a. said connector legs mounted on opposed edges of elementssaid support member to present a support area 10 sembly, and 

1. A foot binding mechanism adapted to receive one''s foot therein, comprising: a. a foot support means attached to a main support member having a stationary housing assembly and a movable housing assembly; b. said movable housing assembly connected by a connector housing to said support member; c. a binding means connected to said movable housing assembly and said support member; d. said binding means includes a thrust member connected to said movable housing assembly, an anchor bar connected to said thrust member, and an anchor assembly connected to said anchor bar; e. said anchor bar movable longitudinally within said anchor assembly to adjusted positions and freely movable in an upward manner to the unlatched condition for substantial longitudinal movement of said movable housing assembly and, subsequently, movable downwardly to the latched condition in contact with said anchor assembly; f. said anchor assembly having a plurality of guide slots therewithin to selectively receive said anchor bar therewithin in an adjusted condition whereby said anchor bar is movable within said guide slots so as to be movable to various adjusted position, and said guide slots restrict rearward movement of said anchor bar and permit upward and lateral movement thereof to another adjusted position.
 2. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said stationary housing assembly having a connector member securing a foot support boot against said support member; b. said thrust member having a main thrust body pivotally connected to said movable housing and pivotally connected to said anchor bar and movable about a pivot point from latched to unlatched conditions, and c. said anchor assembly having a pair of spaced sidewalls having a plurality of said guide slots therewithin to selectively receive said anchor bar therewithin in an adjusted condition whereby said anchor bar is movable within said sidewalls and outwardly of said guide slots so as to be movable to various adjusted position.
 3. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said anchor assembly having a pair of spaced sidewalls having the plurality of said guide slots therewithin to selectively receive said anchor bar therewithin in an adjusted condition whereby said anchor bar is movable within said sidewalls and said guide slots so as to be movable to various adjusted positions, and b. said guide slots having forwardly extended finger elements to restrict rearward movement of said anchor bar and permit upward and lateral movement thereof to another adjusted position.
 4. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 3, wherein: a. said anchor assembly provided with a pair of spaced anchor sections each to receive a portion of said anchor bar therein; and b. said anchor bar having a pair of parallel connector legs, each having an outwardly extended connector shafts to mount in respective one''s said guide slots to hold in the adjusted conditions.
 5. A foot binding mechanism as described in claim 4, wherein: a. said movable housing assembly having a connector element securing a heel support boot against said support member; b. said connector element haivng guide plates movable within said connector housing for longitudinal movement; c. said connector element having a latch assembly engageable with said thrust member to anchor and hold said anchor bar in the latched condition.
 6. A foot binding mechanism as describe in claim 4, wherein: a. said connector legs mounted on opposed edges of said support member to present a support area therebetween; b. said thrust member and anchor bar extended in a common horizontal plane in the latched condition to prevent movement of said movable housing assembly, and c. said connector legs mounted within said guide slots and held against rearward movement by said finger elements. 